Rotary tiller



Decf. 11, 1923. 1,476,917 l I J. F. M. PATITZ ROTARY TILLER original Filed May 27. 1918 Y im -Jize PatentedDec. 1l, 1923.

UNITED STATES 'rATiNiA orrlca.

JOHANN FRIEDRICH MAX PATITZ, OF MILWAUKEE, WQISCONSIN, AS'SIGNOR T0 ALLIB- CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

no'rAaY TILLER.

Original application led May 27., 1918, Serial Noi. 237,359. Divided andthi application led June 8,

Rotary Tiller, of which the following is a` specification.

This invention relates in general to iinprovements in the construction and operation of agricultural appliances, and relates more specifically to improvements in soil tilling machines and implements.

A general object of theinvention is tov provide a soil tiller which is simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

One of the more specific objects is to pro. vide an improved construction of disintregrating element for rotary fillers, which Vis simple and compact in construction and which will not be readily damaged b-y impact with abnormally hard substances in the. soil. It has heretofore been proposed to construct a rotary tiller with a plurality of flexible Wire hooks secured-to a rotating drum and adapted for angular displacement relatively tothe drum and around the axis of rotation thereof. With this prior structure if an abnormally hard substance was encountered by one 'of the hooks, the obstructed hook would swing inwardly toward the drum and around the axis of rotation v to distortion by obstructions and which will,-

thereof, in order to permit the rotor to pass over such obstruction. It has been found that'in order to provide suflicient stiffness in these wire hooks, to effectively till the soil, the' hooks must be formed of relatively heavy wire which will not -readily submit in many cases, break rather than bend. In order to overcome the objections of this prior device, it has been proposed to utilize a disintegrating element which, in order to provide sufficient rigidity for tilling, is fixed' against angular displacement about the rotor axis, but which will automatically move laterally out of its normal plane of rotation and thus avoid injury to the rotor in case an obstruction is encountered'. Virhile this laterally movable device eliminates the objections encountered with the preceding spring hooks the structure is expensive from a manufacturing standpoint due to the fact Serial No. 474,712. Y

that comparatively complicated means are employed for returning the disintegrating elements after displacement. The present. invention therefore contemplates an im provement over the laterally movable disintegrating element structure, whereby the cost of construction may be reduced to a minimum without sacrificing efficiency.

Another specific object is to provider-.rentra for accurately and readily gaging the depth of tillage. It has heretofore been proposed to utilize a gaging"'shoe eccentrically pivoted to the tiller rotor at a medial portion thereof. The shoe of this prior gaging de* vice was provided ywith a leading edge in clined upwardly and rearwardly away from the ground similar to the ordinary plowshare. It has been found that this prior device while providing relatively eflicient gaging means, was objectionable in that it collected and carried large quantities of dbris along the surface of the soil, thus interfering with the adjacent tilling hooks. The present invention contemplates elimina` tion of this objectionable feature of the prior art device, by providing a gaging shoe which is adjustable to ,different positions around the axis of the rotor as a center, and which has a .,cutting-member in advance thereof which disintegrates the dbris and thus prevents accumulation. The gaging shoe itself has a leading edge which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly toward the ground, whereby dbris is forced into y 4the tilled soil as the machine advances. l VA further specific object is to provide various improvements in details of tiller structure, whereby a tiller of maximum capacity results and one which is readily controlled by a single attendant. The present application is a division of application Serial No. 237,359 tiled May 27, 1918.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar part-s in the various views.

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a motor-driven soil tiller showing the same in operating position with respect to the ground.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional side elevation of one set of three disintegrating elements showing the same secured to the rotor drum.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the medial portion of the tiller rotor showing the depth gaging mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one set of three disintegrating elements of modified construea tion.

While the invention is disclosed herein as` applied to a motor-driven traction engine, it will be obvious that at least some of the features'the-reof are not limited to such specific embodiment. The motordriven tractor which transports the soil tilling andv disintegrating element, comprises a main frame 2 mounted upon a pair of rear traction wheels 6 and one or more front steering wheels, not shown. The rear traction lWheels 6 are 1- associated with the rear' axles 14 and are operatively connected to a main motor or engine located at the front of the machine, through transmission mechlanism and clutches of well known structure.

Associated with the rear of the `vehicle is a rotor supporting colhmn 7 the front end of which is pivotally connected to the frame V2 by means of a universal coupling 52 and the opposite vertically swingable end of which forma a support for the tiller disintegrating element or rotor.

The form of tiller rotor disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a centrally divided carrier or drum 8 drivingly connectedto a concentric drive shaft 9 which is in turn operatively connected at its' medial portion through suitable bevel gearing and shatting'not shown, tov a drive shaft 46.` The carrier or drum 8 has a plurality 'of disintegrating hooks or elements mounted thereon.

Each of the disintegratingelements comprises a substantially triangular spring arm V10, a head 11 locked to the spring arm 10 by means ofia transverse locking pin 17, and a renewable point 12 fitted lwithin a tapered hole in the head 11. The ends ot each spring arm 1,0 adjacent to the drum 8, are bent inwardly and engage alined openings in the adjacent bracket 13. The brackets 13 are loosely detachably secured to the drum 8 by means of cap screws 28.

lThese brackets 13 are capable ot swinging to a limited extent, about the retaining cap screws 28 as pivots, thereby permitting lateral displacement of the disintcgrating elem/ents` when these elements engage abnormal obstructions. the brackets l?) of each annular series however, heilig normali)v retained in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drum 8 and in contact with the drum by the pressure exertedagainst the brackets bythe spring arms 10. It will be noted that during sidewise displacement ot' one ot the hooks of a series, the other two hooks of that series will also be slightly displaced due to the interconnection of the three hooks. Theeffect of this displacement is however immaterial and all of the three hooks of the series are automatically returned to their normal position as the oh structed` hook kis released.

The form of tiller rotor disclosed in Fig. 4, comprises a carrier or drum 8 with which a plurality of interconnected disinte rating hooks of modified form are associate Each disintegrating implement of this modification` comprises a pair of leaf springs 66 having bent ends, a head 11 locked to the spring ends by means of a transverse locking pin 17, and a renewable point 12 fitted within a tapered hole in the head 11. Each of the leaf springs 66, in common to two of the hooks, these leaf springs having their mid-portions loosely connected to the drum 8 by means of cap screws 28` and having their bent ends loosely fitting the heads 11 so as to permit the desired lateral displacement of the individual hooks upon engagement of an abnormal obstruction.

The tiller actuating, adjusting and transporting power is furnished by a common motor, the power being delivered to the tiller actuating and adjusting mechanisms and to the vehicle transmission mechanism through a main shaft 37. From the main shaft 37 the power for propelling the vehicle is transmitted to 'the rear axles 14 through the vehicle transmission mechanism which comprises coacting spur gears 38, 39, a counter-shaft 40, coacting bevel gears 41, 42, a counter-shaft 51, coacting spur gears 48. 44, and a differential mechanism of ordinary construction, not shown. A clutch 81 associated with the spur gear 38 and with the shaft 37 controls the connection of the transmission mechanism to the main shaft 37, this clutch being manipulable from the operators seat. From the main shaft 37, the power for oj'ierating the tiller rotor, is transmitted to the tiller operating shaft 46, and from thence through a universal joint housed within the coupling' :32 and through shafting and gearing housed within the snpporting column 7, to the transverse rotor shaft 9. It will thus be observed that both the vehichl transmission mechanism and the tiller actu ating mechanism have independent connections to the engine.

The tiller supporting column T which is pivotally mounted upon the trailing end of the vehicle. frame 2. is restrained against excessive movement ontv of a vertical plane, b v means ot' guide chains 19, secured to a medial portion of the column 7 and to the side beams ot the vehicle frame 2; A protecting hood 16 is also associated with the column 7 at the point of attachment of the chains 19 thereto. this hood extending rearwardly over the tiller rotor so as to prevent material from being thrown by the hooks against the mechanism which is mounted upon the vehicle.. A chain 18 isalso connected to the column 7 adjacent tno the point of attachment. ofthe chains 19 andl hood 16 thereto,l this chain-18 ,extending upwardly frame 2. i The lever 20 is provided ata point intermediate its ends, with a laterally projecting pin 63 tov which is secured one end of a coiled spring 21. The opposite end of v the spring 21 is adj ustably secured by means of a nut 58, to a screwk threaded connecting rod which is in turn adjustably secured to a swivel block 29 pivotallymounted upon the vehicle frame 2. fA .connecting4 rod 64 is pivotally connected to the lever at a point etween the pin 63 and the lever pivot, this connecting rod 64 being provided with a nut and washer coacting with one end of'a helical compression spring. This helical `compression spring, not shown, is located within a tubular connection 22 and has its end engaging an end of the connection .22 in such-a manner-that the spring may be compressed by moving the connection 64 to the right longitudinally of the tubular connection 22. The forward end of the connection 22 is pivotally connected to a crank which is rotatable by means of a cross-shaft having a Worm-wheel mounted thereon. This worm-wheel meshes with a worm 32 which is adapted t'o be rotated by the engine.

' With the aid of the mechanism .just de-` scribed, the tiller rotor may be raised and lowered independently of the vehicle tra-nsmission "mechanism and of the rotor .actuating mechanism.

The drum 8 is provided at its medial portion with a flange or projection to which is adjustably secured a downwardly depending depth gaging shoe 15, see Figs. 1 and 3. The

l depth gaging shoe 15 is provided with elongated curved slots 53 which permit adjustment of ,the shoe about the axis of the drum 8 and relatively to the shoe clamping n bolts 54. The leading end of the shoe 15 is provided 4'with a depending projection or cutter -55 which serves to form a fissure in the soil in advance of the shoe 15. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 3, that the shoe 15 andthe column 7 are located between two annular series of disintegrating elements and occupy approximately the same space measured longitudinally of the drum 8, as is occupied by one set of disintegrating elements.

During normal operation of the machine, the vehicle transmission mechanism may be operated independently ofV the tillerrotating mechanism and 'of the tiller lifting e mechanism. In orderv to cause the tiller clutch 25, whereupon rotary motion is transmitted` 'to' the tiller drive shaft 9. The motion transmitted to the tiller drive shaft 9, causes the tiller 8 to revolve in a clockwise directiony as viewed in Figs. l, 2 and 4. The

tiller rotor may be lowered into the ground or elevated therefrom, -independently of the operation Vof the vehicleftransmission mechathrough the soil substantially parallel to the ground surface, the shoe oii'ers less resistance as it advances through the soil than it would in any other position. By loosening the adjusting bolts 54, swinging the gaging shoe 15 about the axis of thedrum 8 as a center and refastening the boltsk 54, it will be apparent that the depth of the cut may be readily varied. By inclining the leading edge of the shoe downwardly and rearwardly relativelyl to the tiller rotor, dbris accumulated by the leading edge of the aging shoe will be urged downwardly and orcegl under the surface of the tilled soil. The utting projection 55 serves to provide a fissure or groove through which the gaging shoe may readily pass. It will be noted that by bringing the tiller hooks on opposite' sides of the gaging shoe as near as possible to this shoe, and providing the shoe with a cutter projection 55, all of the soil within the limits of the tiller rotor, is effectively disintegrated.

The disintegrating hooks will readily move transversely of they rotor, when ab.

norm'ally hard substances are encountered,

mal positions after the obstruction has been passed. If an obstruction is of such size that the hooks can not move transversely of lthe rotor a sufficient amount to clear the obstruction, the entire rotor will be lifted by the obstructing hook or hooks and will again assumeits normal operating position when the obstruction has been passed. The disintegrating hooks are of relatively simple construction and may be readily replaced when necessary.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact 'details of construction herein"shown and described, for various modifications may occur to persons skilled in the art. j,

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a tiller, a carrier movable about an axis, a member loosely attached to said carrier byumeansof apivot extending transversely of said axis, anda plurality of disi. said carrier, and a. plurality of disintegrat` Y ing` elements directly connecting said memments having spring arms for urging adjai Cd 'pletely encircling said carrier.

integrating elementsassociated with said' loosel v attached member.

2. Vna tillena carrier rotatable about an axis, a member loosely piv'otally attached to' said carrier by means of a pivot intersect-` ing said axis, and a plurality of disintegrating elements attachedvto said member.

3. In a tiller, a carrier, a member pivotally attached to and lyin in a plane extendin transversely of sai carrier, and a plu ra ity of disintegrating elements associated 'with said member and restraining the same against movement out of said plane.

4. In a tiller, acalrier, a member pivotally attached to said carrier, and a plurality of disintegrating elementsl having spring arms for urging said member and said elements into a common plane.

5. Ina tiller, aV carrier, a plurality of members lying in a plane transversely of bers, said members and said elements coma tiller, a carrier, a series of members spaced about v'and pivotally attached to said carrier, and disintegrating elements in the spaces .between` said 'members said elecent members toward each other.

7. In a tiller, a vehicle, a downwardl movable disintegrating rotor associated wit Y said vehicle, and means for predetermining the extent of downward movement of said rotor, said means comprising an element ad justable to different positions around the axis of said rotor as a'center.

8. In a tiller, a downwardly movable disintegrating rotor, and gaging vmeans for predetermining the extent of downward movement of said rotor, said means comprising a shoe adjustable to different posi! tions around the axis of said rotor as av center.

'9. In a tiller, a yvehicle, a downwardly movable disintegrating rotor associated with said vehicle, and means for predeterniining the extent of downward movement of said rotor, said means comprising a cutting meniber having a substantially vertical leading lto said rotor.

`and a p edge, and a shoe member trailing behind said cutting member.

10. In a tiller, a. vehicle, a downwardly movable disintegrating rotor associated with said vehicle, and means for predeterminin the extent of downward movement of sai rotor,l said means comprising a'slioe member having a leading ed sloping downwardly and rearwardly wit reference 11. In a tiller, a vehicle, a member pivoted upon said vehicle to swing in a vertical -plane, a disintegrating rotor carried b said member, and gaging means associate with said rotor for predetermining the extent of downward swing of "said member, said gagingf means comprising a shoe adjustable to di erent positions around the 'axis of said rotor as a center.

12. In a tiller, a carrier movable about an. axis, a plurality of members ivoted in a plane transverse to said axis, an a plurality of disintegrating elements directly connecting said members` said members and said elements completely encircling said carrier land said elements being constructed to ur said members toward said plane about their pivots.

13. In a tiller, a carrier rotatable about an axis, a plurality of members coasting with said carrier and movable about pivots extendin transversely of said. carrier axis,

izurality of disintegrating elements having` spring arms directly connecting said members, said members and said elements JOHANN FRIEDRICH IAX PATIN. 

